Brew chamber for a single serve beverage brewer

ABSTRACT

A brew chamber for a single serve filter package. The chamber includes a receptacle having an open top, configured and dimensioned to receive the package. A frame for supporting the receptacle for pivotal movement about a first axis between a vertical brew position and a forwardly inclined open position. A lid is supported on the frame for pivotal movement about a second axis between a raised position allowing access to the open top when the receptacle is in the open position, and a lowered position closing the open top when the receptacle is in the brew position. The receptacle is linked to the lid such that the receptacle is pivoted between the brew and open positions in response to movement of the lid between the lowered and raised positions.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Ser. No. 10/734,639filed on Dec. 12, 2003.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates generally to single serve beverage brewers, andis concerned in particular with the provision of a novel and improvedbrew chamber for such brewers.

2. Description of the Prior Art

In known brew chambers for single serve beverage brewers, such as thosedisclosed for example in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,325,765; 6,079,315; 6,142,063;and 6,606,938, a disposable beverage filter cartridge is pierced byinlet and outlet probes to accommodate a through flow of metered hotwater. The hot water infuses a dry beverage medium contained in thecartridge to thereby produce a single serving of the beverage.

The brew chambers are opened and closed by automatically operablemechanisms that have proven to be reliable, although relatively complexand expensive.

Other beverage brewers of the type disclosed for example in WO 02/43541A1 have brew chambers that are opened and closed manually, but thesealso employ unduly complicated operating mechanisms.

Moreover, the prior art brew chambers, be they automatically or manuallyoperated, suffer from an added disadvantage in that their cartridge orpod receptacles remain vertical and thus inconveniently oriented whenthe chambers are opened.

There exists a need, therefore, for an improved beverage chamber thathas a relatively simple and inexpensive operating mechanism, with thecapability, when opened, of presenting the cartridge receptacle in aforwardly inclined position, thus enhancing its accessibility duringboth insertion of fresh cartridges and retrieval of spent cartridges.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A brew chamber in accordance with the present invention has a receptaclewith an open top configured and dimensioned to receive a beverage filtercartridge. A fixed frame supports the receptacle for pivotal movementabout a first axis between a vertical brew position and a forwardlyinclined open position. A lid is supported on the frame for pivotalmovement about a second axis between a raised position allowing accessto the forwardly inclined open receptacle, and a lowered positionclosing the receptacle in its vertical brew position. The first andsecond axes are parallel. A linkage connects the receptacle to the lidand serves to pivotally manipulate the receptacle between its open andbrew positions in response to movement of the lid between its raised andlowered positions.

These and other features and advantages of the present invention willnow be described in greater detail with reference to the accompanyingdrawings, wherein:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a single serve beverage brewer,with a brew chamber in accordance with the present invention shown inits closed condition;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the brewer as shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 1 showing the brew chamber in its opencondition;

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of the brewer as shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a side view of the brew chamber and its operating mechanismremoved from the brewer housing, the chamber being shown open;

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 5 with portions broken away;

FIGS. 7-9 are views similar to FIG. 6 showing the brew chamber atsuccessive stages during closure;

FIGS. 10 a-10 d are views showing the coaction between linkage arms andresilient elements of the frame during pivotal movement of the handlebetween its open and closed positions; and

FIG. 11 is a top plan view of the closed brew chamber.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

With reference initially to FIGS. 1-4, a single serve beverage brewer isshown at 10 having a housing 12 with a forwardly protruding shelf 14arranged to support a cup 16 for the brewed beverage.

The housing 12 contains components conventionally included in brewers ofthis type, including, inter alia, a water tank, heater, pump, electroniccontrols, etc. These are well known to those skilled in the art, andthus have not been illustrated, nor will they be described further inthis specification. Suffice it to say that these components coact inresponse to the user's command to deliver a metered amount of heatedwater to a brew chamber generally indicated at 18.

The brew chamber includes a cartridge receptacle 20 and a lid 22. Thereceptacle has an open top configured and dimensioned to receive abeverage filter cartridge 24 (see FIGS. 3 and 4). The cartridge 24 ispreferably of the type disclosed, for example, in U.S. Pat. No.5,840,189, the description of which is herein incorporated by reference.Cartridge 24 includes an impermeable piercable outer containerinternally subdivided by a filter element into two compartments, one ofwhich contains a dry beverage medium. Alternatively, the brew chambercould be employed to process beverage pods that typically are structuredwith soluble beverage materials confined between top and bottom filtermedia.

With reference additionally to FIGS. 5-9 and 11, the brew chamber 18includes a frame structure 26 secured in any known manner within thebrewer housing 12.

The receptacle 20 is supported by the frame structure for pivotalmovement about a first axis A₁ between a vertical brew position, asshown in FIGS. 1, 2, 8 and 9, and a forwardly inclined open position, asshown in FIGS. 3, 4 and 5.

The lid 22 is supported by the frame structure 26 for pivotal movementabout a second axis A₂ between a lowered closed position, again as shownin FIGS. 1, 2, 8 and 9, and a raised open position as shown in FIGS. 3,4 and 5. The raised lid allows access to the forwardly inclinedreceptacle 20 for convenient insertion and removal of a beverage filtercartridge 24. The lowered lid closes and cooperates with the receptacleto enclose the filter cartridge during the brew cycle. As shown in FIGS.5-7, the lid carries an inlet probe 28 and as shown in FIG. 7, the baseof the receptacle includes an outlet probe 30. The probes pierce thebeverage filter cartridge as the lid is lowered to its closed position,thus accommodating a through flow of heated water into the cartridge viathe inlet probe for infusion with the beverage medium contained in thecartridge, with the resulting brewed beverage exiting via the outletprobe for delivery to the underlying cup 16. As mentioned previously, abeverage pod could be employed alternatively, with water flowing intothe brew chamber via an inlet port or ports rather than an inlet probe,with the brewed beverage exiting the brew chamber via an outlet port orports.

As can be seen in FIGS. 5-9 and 11, a linkage generally indicated at 32connects the receptacle 20 to the lid 22 and serves to pivot the formerabout axis A between its vertical brew and forwardly inclined positionsin response to movement of the latter between its lowered and raisedpositions. The linkage includes arms 34 fixed at their upper ends to thelid 22, and carrying pins 36 at their lower ends. The pins 36 arepositioned to ride in contoured slots 38 in opposite sides of thereceptacle 20. The slots 38 have upper substantially straight segments38 a communicating at bends 38 b with rearwardly inclined and somewhatenlarge lower segments 38 c.

A generally U-shaped operating handle 40 has its ends fixed to generallyperpendicular crank arms 42 which in turn are connected to the lid 22for pivotal movement about a third axis A₃ parallel to the first andsecond axes A₁, A₂. The crank arms 42 pivotally connected as at 44 tolinks 46 which in turn are pivotally connected as at 48 to the framestructure 26.

When the receptacle 20 is in its forwardly inclined open position asshown in FIG. 5, the operating handle 40 is at an angle of approximately90° with respect to the lid 22, and the pins 36 on arms 34 are at therearmost ends of the straight slot segments 38 a.

As the handle 40 is pivoted forwardly about axis A₃ (FIG. 6), the pins36 on arms 34 progress around the slot bends 38 b, pivotally urging thereceptacle about axis A₁ rearwardly from its forwardly inclinedposition. Simultaneously, the cooperative pivotal action of the crankarms 42 and links 46 causes the lid 22 to be pivotally lowered aboutaxis A₂.

At the closed position shown in FIG. 9, the pins 36 on arms 34 havereached the lower ends of the slots 38, and the operating handle 40 issubstantially parallel to the fully lowered lid 22.

Frame 26 includes resilient elements 50 configured and arranged to coactwith the crank arms 42 in providing an “over the center” yieldabletactile resistance to pivotal movement of the handle 40 between its openand closed positions. More particularly, and with reference to FIGS. 10a-10 d, which coincide respectively with FIGS. 6-9, it will be seen thatthe crank arms 42 pivot together with handle 40 about axis A₃. At theposition shown in FIGS. 8 and 10 c, corners 42 a of the crank armscontact and downwardly deflect resilient elements 50 through an initialdistance d₁, thus providing tactile resistance to continued handlemovement. When the lid is finally closed, and as shown in FIG. 10 d, theflat bottoms 42 b of the crank arms rest against the upper edges of theresilient elements, the latter having sprung back slightly but remainingdownwardly deflected by a reduced distance d₂. The handle 40 is thusresiliently held downwardly in its closed position, thus providing apositive indication of chamber closure.

In light of the foregoing, it will now be understood that the mechanismof the present invention is relatively simple, involving as majorcomponents the receptacle 20, lid 22 and handle 40 respectively mountedfor pivotal movement about parallel axes A₁, A₂ and A₃. The brew chamber18 can accommodate various types of disposable filter packages,including the filter cartridge 24 shown in the drawings, as well asfilter pods. When the brew chamber is opened, the receptacle is inclinedforwardly to facilitate insertion of fresh filter packages and removalof spent filter packages.

1. A brew chamber for a disposable single serve filter package, saidchamber comprising: a receptacle having an open top configured anddimensioned to received said package; a frame for supporting saidreceptacle for pivotal movement about a first axis between a verticalbrew position and a forwardly inclined open position; a lid supported onsaid frame for pivotal movement about a second axis between a raisedposition allowing access to said open top when said receptacle is insaid open position, and a lowered position closing said open top whensaid receptacle is in said brew position; and connecting means forconnecting said receptacle to said lid and for pivoting said receptaclebetween said brew and open positions in response to movement of said lidbetween said lowered and raised positions.
 2. The brew chamber of claim1 wherein said first and second axes are parallel.
 3. The brew chamberof claim 1 wherein said connecting means comprises levers projectingfrom said lid, said levers being engaged in and movable along contouredslots in said receptacle.
 4. The brew chamber of claim 1 furthercomprising a handle connected to said lid for pivotal movement betweenopen and closed positions about a third axis parallel to said first andsecond axes, and linkage means for connecting said handle to said frame,said linkage means being configured and arranged to pivot said lid aboutsaid second axis between said raised and lowered positions in responseto pivotal movement of said handle about said third axis between saidopen and closed positions.
 5. The brew chamber of claim 4 furthercomprising resilient elements on said frame, said linkage means beingengageable with said resilient elements to provide yieldable tactileresistance to pivotal movement of said handle between said open andclosed positions.
 6. The brew chamber of claim 5 wherein said resilientelements coact with said linkage means to resiliently maintain saidhandle into said closed position.
 7. A brew chamber for a disposablesingle serve filter package, said chamber comprising: a receptaclehaving an open top configured and dimensioned to received said package;a frame for supporting said receptacle for pivotal movement about afirst axis between a vertical brew position and a forwardly inclinedopen position; a lid supported on said frame for pivotal movement abouta second axis parallel to said first-axis between a raised positionallowing access to said open top when said receptacle is in said openposition, and a lowered position closing said open top when saidreceptacle is in said brew position; connecting means for connectingsaid receptacle to said lid and for pivoting said receptacle betweensaid brew and open positions in response to movement of said lid betweensaid lowered and raised positions, said connecting means comprisinglevers projecting from said lid, said levers being engaged in andmoveable along contoured slots in said receptacle; a handle connected tosaid lid for pivotal movement between open and closed positions about athird axis parallel to said first and second axes; and linkage means forconnecting said handle to said frame, said linkage means beingconfigured and arranged to pivot said lid about said second axis betweensaid raised and lowered positions in response to pivotal movement ofsaid handle about said third axis between said open and closedpositions.
 8. A brew chamber for a disposable single serve filterpackage, said chamber comprising: a receptacle having an open topconfigured and dimensioned to received said package; a frame forsupporting said receptacle for pivotal movement about a first axisbetween a vertical brew position and a forwardly inclined open position;a lid supported on said frame for pivotal movement about a second axisparallel to said first axis between a raised position allowing access tosaid open top when said receptacle is in said open position, and alowered position closing said open top when said receptacle is in saidbrew position; connecting means for connecting said receptacle to saidlid and for pivoting said receptacle between said brew and openpositions in response to movement of said lid between said lowered andraised positions; a handle connected to said lid for pivotal movementbetween open and closed positions about a third axis parallel to saidfirst and second axes; linkage means for connecting said handle to saidframe, said linkage means being configured and arranged to pivot saidlid about said second axis between said raised and lowered positions inresponse to pivotal movement of said handle about said third axisbetween said open and closed positions; and resilient elements on saidframe, said linkage means being engageable with said resilient elementsto provide yieldable tactile resistance to pivotal movement of saidhandle between said open and closed positions.